The K-pop industry is widely known for being the birthplace of the creation of top-tier music, not only recognized in South Korea but on a global scale as well. Nevertheless, many recognize K-pop as one of the most harsh and pressuring industries to enter.
Although K-pop has an extensive history of work issues, including—but not limited to—pressure to achieve a specific appearance and even harassment, the industry recently extended its branches to the Western world through companies such as HYBE or JYPE, where an increasing number of adolescents and young adults are joining trainee programs and companies.
One such example is Kanon Yokoi’s sister, RIMA, who is a member of one of the most prominent groups in the industry, NiziU. Based on her understanding and familiarity with the system, Ms. Yokoi views the industry favorably despite the various hardships trainees may face.
When trainees sign with their companies, they are often also requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement, a contract that stipulates that the person who signs it agrees to keep specific information about the company’s activities confidential. Such agreements make it difficult for trainees to speak about their personal experiences, as they may have to omit information such as rules, standards, and methods of training. These contracts are generally designed to protect both the trainee and the company, ensuring mutual benefits. In most cases, a guardian handles the contractual process since the majority of trainees are underage. Parents typically sign on behalf of their children, but as trainees reach a certain age, they begin signing agreements themselves.
An ex-K-pop trainee who requested anonymity because of her non-disclosure agreement with her former company described her experience as someone who joined the industry. Although she specified that everything was provided for the trainees, from lessons, rules, and guidelines, as well as adequate housing and food, there was one thing that was missing: lessons on how to manage weight in healthy ways. Despite the companies encouraging the trainees to lose weight through weekly and monthly checkups, they were not taught healthy eating habits. While there was a dietitian who was there to tell them what to eat more or less of, as the company monitored their meals, there was no one to inform them specifically about how they could keep their weight within the required limits. In her opinion, these limits were not realistic or healthy, as the main goal was to achieve a slim look on camera, not just in real life. So, often, these trainees look much thinner on stage compared to the screens.
To achieve this digital image, they practice unhealthy habits found on the internet, such as restrictive eating, rather than planning their meals to fit their calorie intake needs. One well-known example is IU, one of the most loved K-pop soloists. She previously revealed that she struggled with bulimia and anxiety because she feared that she would lose popularity if she gained weight.
While the ex-trainee said that trainees did not receive harsh comments about her weight and appearance, she knew that if managers considered it necessary, they would kindly suggest the trainees try to eat more healthily or lose a little weight.
On that matter, Ms. Yokoi shares: “I’m not talking on behalf of my sister, I’m just talking on behalf of the whole industry. There are definitely struggles with body image because K-pop especially has high standards of keeping the physical appearance.”
Another trainee currently working for another one of such K-pop companies under the division in Japan, who also signed a non-disclosure agreement, confirmed that weight standards are reinforced and that the same methods of keeping track of trainees’ weights are used. On the other hand, she explains that, in her case, the weight requirements are healthy, although the company enforces slightly stricter rules on their meals over the course of the training period. While she admits that it is definitely quite stressful to maintain high standards in all that she does, including dancing, voice training, and keeping in shape, she truly enjoys what she is doing and believes that the only way to get through everything is to keep a positive attitude.
At the same time, trainees are not guaranteed to debut as idols, which is why they feel pressured to do well in their studies, in case of elimination from the program. Both the ex-trainee and the active trainee added that there are monthly evaluations of progress in skills, based on which they can be disqualified from the program. Their removal from the training system means that they will need to redirect their focus toward academics to pursue a different path in life than intended. It is best for them to perform well in school to be able to return easily without educational complications.
Despite the different K-pop industry experiences, one thing that the ex-trainee and the current trainee agreed on was that academic pressure only makes it more difficult for them to excel in their idol training. The way the company manages the training schedule, in addition to the stresses of school, makes their lives stressful. Both trainees added that training schedules usually leave very little free time after school, increasing the difficulty of managing both the academic and idol sides of their lives.
For the ex-trainee, there was often not enough time for studying, and sleep was sometimes limited. During her training in Korea, she would start her day at 8 a.m., her classes at the company at 10 a.m., and end training at 10 p.m.. Due to other duties in the dormitories, she would not be able to sleep until two in the morning. Back in Japan, her situation was slightly better, as it was difficult for the company to track their activities. She had to take online lessons as soon as she got back home from school until 10 p.m. and submit assignments on the same day before midnight.
The active trainee shared a somewhat similar schedule about her after-school life: she explained how she usually gets home relatively late, at around 10 p.m., after training in dance and vocals, with not much, if any, time remaining to study. She would sleep for only three hours on days when she had assignments and tests, waking up early to study and finish homework.
Ms. Yokoi’s sister has a similar story. After joining the trainee program, she continued her education through an online school. Even though her classes were online, she still had to balance training with school work, leaving little time for other activities.
In addition to the challenges of balancing training and education, trainees also face contractual demands. Despite the fact that signing with a company does not require payment for training, if the trainees voluntarily decide to leave the system, they are expected to pay for all expenses the agency spent on them. The contract also states that they are not allowed to sign with another company within the following 2-3 years. If the trainees eventually debut, they will not receive a salary until all investments made by the company are repaid, potentially worth millions of yen.
Emma Durrant, trained and registered psychologist and a school counselor, points out that teenagers who start to work in a competitive and harsh environment so early on can stunt their psychological development. Ms. Durrant states that “for them to be going into the industry at this age, it’s like cutting into a really important time when they need to be learning about so many other parts of life. This is a time when people are really still working out who they are, and forming their identities. They are missing out on a really developmental period of childhood.”
Ms. Durrant also expressed concern about adolescent life in the K-pop industry. She described the immense toll young trainees face in the industry: “The impact of having to be in that space where you are judged by your skills but also how you look, how you talk, and your personality can have huge detrimental impacts to mental health.” Regarding how critical comments about appearance affect normal teenagers, she said, “For young people, it’s a lot harder than for someone who is a lot older who can filter it out or turn it off.
Concerning this topic, Ms. Yokoi believes that, although the training regime is harsh, “people have to understand that that is the kind of industry they are getting themselves into, and to be able to debut and succeed onwards, they have to go through all of that. Trainees have to feel responsible for the decision that they made to go into the industry.”
Ms. Yokoi’s parents have both been a part of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. Such experience allowed them to be aware of the reality of the industry: “My parents knew what kind of industry she [my sister] put herself in. We were saying ‘If you really want to do this, you have to enjoy the pain.’ But also at the same time, my mom was saying ‘If you want to come back, you’re free to come back any time.’”
Yet, despite the efforts of so many trainees to make it through the various stages of elimination in their training career, only a few people are selected and eventually thrive in the industry. In fact, The Science Survey estimates that only 1 in 10 trainees from a major company actually debut and become idols. Ms. Yokoi describes the type of person who ultimately becomes successful: “First of all, a person who loves what they’re doing. I think that’s really important. Obviously, you need skills, even if it’s not perfect. They don’t ask you to be perfect from the very beginning, they just want to see your potential when you’re going through the audition stage. And you definitely need luck. Even if you’re talented, if the company doesn’t want to debut the group at the time, then you’re of no use. One part of it is also having enough grudge and the guts. If you’re mentally weak, you can’t do it.”
In the end, Ms. Yokoi believes that “going through all those hardships is part of being in the industry and part of being a professional.”She highlights the sacrifices trainees have to make in order to be a part of the entertainment industry: “I think sacrificing the life that a normal boy or girl has in their youth is definitely one thing that the trainees would probably struggle the most with. You can’t do the things that your peers or friends from your school have done.”
